So some of you may remember that I pledged to try out South Beach last month, but I never reported on how it went.  I am proud to say that I managed to do the full two week introductory phase, at the end of which I was down almost five pounds.  I am not so proud to say that the day after I finished that phase, I promptly crashed into some potato chips and ice cream.  As a result, I’m back up a few pounds. 

But.

Last week, Manly found this site, and went though the assessment.  And then he harrassed gently and supportively encouraged me to go give it a try myself.  I did.  And my “real age” is almost five years older than I actually am.  Ouch.  For some reason, seeing the results in that form finally managed to make me realize exactly how the way I eat and exercise is hurting my health.  As a direct result, I have stocked up on whole grains and veggies, and I’ve been trying to eat better.  I’ve also started going to the gym every day with a coworker.  I don’t expect to lose weight quickly, but I am hoping that adopting a healthier lifestyle will help me drop some pounds. 

Now the assessment looks at more than diet and exercise; it also goes into general health and lifestyle factors.  And here’s where the irony of all this comes in: my hormonal/endocrine issues are “aging” me.  They cause my migraines, which also age me.  The migraines and insulin resistance cause me to take prescription medicines, which age me.  (And don’t forget that the insulin resistance is part of the reason I’m overweight in the first place.) Being infertile is major life stress, which ages me.  And of course, women who never have children are at a higher risk of breast cancer, which – say it with me – ages me.  In fact, almost all of the factors detrimental to my health are related to my infertility. 

And yet infertility treatment is considered a “lifestyle choice” by insurance companies.  Once again, and all together now, when will these guys figure out that paying for ART is cheaper in the long run than paying for all the related complications!